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TOPIC:
Thurston County Working Farms and Forestry
Preservation Plan
SPONSORED BY: Thurston County Agricultural Committee in
coordination with the Thurston County Development Services Department
DATE/TIME:
July 31, 2008 at
7:00 p.m.
LOCATION:
Parkside
Elementary Gymnasium, 301
Central Ave E, Tenino, WA 98589
(Contact Corina
below if you need directions)
Why is Thurston
County concerned
about Working Lands?
Thurston County has a long tradition of
agriculture and forestry production yet today these Working Farms and
Forestry lands are rapidly disappearing. While the rate of conversion has
not been specifically studied in Thurston
County, 2002 U.S census data shows
Thurston County with 74,442 aces in Working
Farms and Forestry. Overall these numbers are a sharp decline
from 1954 when Thurston
County had 157,202
acres in active production.
Thurston County
is one of the fastest growing counties in Washington State,
which has increased the demand for available land. Since the 1960s,
when the decline of Working Farms and Forestry lands began, the County has
consistently been exceeding the State's overall rate of growth. This
growth pattern is anticipated to extend well into the future. This growth
will continue the pressure on the Working Farms and Forestry community to
sell their lands and leave production.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of the public meeting is to inform citizens about the
development of a Working Farms and Forestry Preservation Plan. To obtain
public comment and suggestion related to the conservation of these
important community resources.
QUESTIONS: For
more information see
http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/permitting/meeting-notices.htm
You may also contact project staff Corina Hayes at hayesc@co.thurston.wa.us
, phone (360) 754-3355 x 7011
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